Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., March 22, 2008 Adar2 16, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:38 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert watching German Chancellor Angela Merkel lighting the eternal fire at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem on Monday. (Reuters) Last update - 15:40 17/03/2008 Olmert accompanies Merkel to Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial By News Agencies Tags: Holocaust, Yad Vashem  German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, on the second day of her three-day visit to Israel marking the country's 60th anniversary. Merkel, accompanied by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and eight ministers from each government, attended a memorial service for the six million Jews killed by the Nazis during World War II. Signing Yad Vashem's guest book, Merkel pointed to a historic joint Israeli-German cabinet session scheduled for later Monday, when she wrote "In recognition of Germany's responsibility for the Shoah, the German government underlines with the first German-Israeli consultations its determination for a joint shaping of the future." Advertisement Merkel, upon arriving in Tel Aviv on Sunday and referring to Germany's past, said Berlin had a "special responsibility" toward Israel. Olmert, for his part, described Germany, 63 years after the Holocaust, as one of Israel's "strongest allies." On Tuesday, Merkel will become the first foreign head of government to speak before the Knesset. In the past, the honor has been reserved only for heads of state and monarchs. Last week, the Knesset House Committee approved Merkel's request to address the Knesset in German, sparking a heated vote that passed seven to two. The two rightist MKs who voted against the approval, slammed the decision. "I cannot stand to hear German in the Knesset," NRP-National Union MK Aryeh Eldad said, "my mother and father were murdered in that language." "They are Amaleks, they are the mother of all Amaleks. The Jews must not return to be doormats," NRP-National Union MK Uri Ariel said. Merkel said Sunday that this upgrade of ties between Israel and Germany will open a new chapter in relations. During the government meeting, the two sides will sign off on projects in several areas, including environmental protection, science and defense. Merkel began her visit Sunday with a trip to the home of Israel's founding father, David Ben-Gurion, in Sde Boker, an Israeli kibbutz in the southern Negev Desert. Later, Merkel, a former physicist, was to visit the Weizmann Institute, one of Israel's top scientific research facilities. Shimon Stein, a former Israeli ambassador to Germany, said the upgrade in ties is unique for Israel. For the first time, Israel will sign an agreement that will institutionalize annual meetings at the prime minister-chancellor level, he said. Germany has similar arrangements with several other countries. Germany has emerged as one of Israel's staunchest political allies and trading partners in Europe, and Israel has made use of German mediation in winning freedom for captured soldiers. However, six decades after the end of World War II, a state visit by a German leader is still an emotional event for the Jewish state. Six million Jews perished in the Nazi Holocaust, and about 250,000 elderly survivors live in Israel. It is Merkel's second visit to Israel since becoming chancellor in 2005. She is not visiting the Palestinian territories, but her government announced last week that it would sponsor a conference in Berlin in coming months to help upgrade the Palestinian security forces and justice system. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said Merkel would soon pay a special visit to the West Bank to discuss German support for the Palestinians. Germany is a major donor to the Palestinian Authority, headed by moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Meanwhile, U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain is also expected to visit Yad Vashem on Tuesday. Related articles: Olmert: Israel interested in talking with Syria Wiesel declines Israel's 60th honor, cites prior commitments Bookmark to del.icio.us   Declassifying AIPAC Two former pro-Israel lobbyists charged with revealing secret info. to Israeli diplomats. Jersualem pilgrimage Christian pilgrims flock to Holy City to mark Good Friday and retrace the route of Jesus.   1.   new zionazi religion for goyim: Holocautianty 15:46  |  dumb goy 17/03/08   2.   2ND TRY: MERKEL, PLEASE VISIT FAMILIES OF MURDERED KIDS IN GAZA 16:47  |  TripleJump 17/03/08   3.   Germany`s feeling of guilt driving it off-track 16:49  |  Eric 17/03/08   4.   yada yada yada 17:03  |  al 17/03/08   5.   MK Aryeh Eldad and MK Uri Ariel, get over it! 17:11  |  A German 17/03/08   6.   I WONDER 17:17  |  indrajaya 17/03/08   7.   Thank you, Chancellor Merkel. 17:45  |  Fortuna Benmayor 17/03/08   8.   For "A German" # 5 17:52  |  Fortuna Benmayor 17/03/08   9.   #2 Triplejump; A cheap shot like a verbal acrobatics comparing a 18:04  |  Max Zinger,P.Chimist 17/03/08   10.   #5 A German; Your point of view and attitude to WWII casualties 18:21  |  Haham me Bat Yam 17/03/08   11.   #8, Fortuna Benmayor 18:37  |  A German 17/03/08   12.   #10, Haham me Bat Yam 18:45  |  A German 17/03/08   13.   # 12, A german, You are falling back again into the distorted 19:08  |  Haham me Bat Yam 17/03/08   14.   I will pray that... 19:41  |  hollingsworth 17/03/08   15.   Haham is right of course 22:16  |  dyinglikeflies 17/03/08   16.   Selective memories 00:12  |  Truth 18/03/08   17.   get over it, already! 00:22  |  hollingsworth 18/03/08   18.   Merkel 01:42  |  David 18/03/08   19.   Angela dont forget the welfare of Palestinians. 02:44  |  Hermann 18/03/08   20.   Unity 19:26  |  Dean 18/03/08   21.   Why of course, David 19:47  |  hollingsworth 18/03/08   22.   To Haham me Bat Yam "10 05:02  |  Habakuk 19/03/08   23.   at Haham *12 05:07  |  Habakuk 19/03/08   24.   good on you 01:27  |  Chris 23/03/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: Macho U.S. Jews, pantywaist Israel Responses: 210 Jewish group seeks to purge YouTube of anti-Semitic videos Responses: 198 PM says worried Russian weapons will reach Hezbollah Responses: 108 Israel, Germany plan int'l summit to stop Iran nuke program Responses: 114 13-year-old boy wounded in terror attack near Hebron Responses: 104 Editorial: J'lem yeshiva massacre must not lead to boycott of Israeli Arabs Responses: 98 Rosner's Domain U.S. govt. to appeal ruling on classified material in AIPAC trial I've known my rabbi for more than 20 years... (WTR) Poll: Mideast summit in Moscow, a good idea? There's no need for American pressure on Israel Jewish connections in the NCAA (WTR) More Headlines 00:21 Hezbollah deputy chief says he has proof Israel killed Mughniyah 00:14 Cheney in J'lem: U.S. will never pressure Israel to take security risks 01:08 Palestinian sources: No breakthrough in Hamas-Fatah reconciliation bid 19:20 2 Qassams hit Israel as Egypt hosts Hamas, Jihad for truce talks 12:45 Body of Palestinian pulled from collapsed Egypt-Gaza tunnel 12:23 Police arrest 2 youths suspected of stoning cars on Wadi Ara road 01:25 Christian pilgrims flock to Jerusalem's Old City for Good Friday 09:16 Ex-prof with alleged terror ties refuses to testify in U.S. court 06:56 Umm al-Fahm resident shot to death outside her home 17:51 U.S. gov't to appeal ruling on classified material in AIPAC trial 01:18 Bank of Israel report: One in four Israelis over the age of 65 is poor 16:11 Israel, Russia finalize deal on supply of armored vehicles to PA Previous Editions Select Day 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar

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